It’s Independence Day. Hopefully that crappy sci-fi movie isn’t the first thing we think of when we hear that phrase. As I think about what this day means, I think of all the men and women who decided to take a stand against the odds and were willing to sacrifice everything so that one day their children and grandchildren could have a better quality of life. They weren’t afraid to work hard and suffer temporarily for the greater good of their families and their nation. Before, you had to cut down a tree and chop it up to be able to turn your stove on. Nowadays, waiting for the oven to pre-heat feels like an eternity sometimes. Now I’m not saying we gotta live like the Amish, but I do think we can take our freedoms for granted very easily.
Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice for us. He left all his glory behind to become a poor, human carpenter. He wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty. And when faced with the cross, He humbled Himself and gave everything He had, so that we could have the opportunity to live in freedom. Freedom from the power of sin. Freedom from the sting of rejection and failure. Freedom from disease. Freedom from fear. And yet, I know in my life, it’s so easy to get busy and forget how much He gave. In a works-based society, it’s so easy to forget that we have been set free by HIS works alone. It’s so easy to get distracted from the big picture and forget why we are here. Were not here to “rush n rush til life’s no fun” building our own kingdom. Were here to spread the good news of God’s love so the captives can be set free! Thank you Jesus for setting us free!
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Luke 4:18-19
